Arsenal v United 'should be a fantastic game'

Friday 20 January 2023 10:59

Manchester United will travel to London again this weekend, to face Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

After being held to an away draw by Crystal Palace in midweek, Erik ten Hag will no doubt be looking for a big response from his players on Sunday afternoon. 

On this week’s episode of The Debate, Stuart Gardner was joined by former Reds defenders David May and Danny Simpson, along with journalists James Ducker and Simon Stone to discuss our upcoming clash with the Gunners. 

Ducker, who covers the club for The Telegraph, has been impressed with how Sunday’s hosts have rebuilt under manager Mikel Arteta. 
How will United fare at the Emirates? Video

How will United fare at the Emirates?

With Sunday's clash at Arsenal fast approaching, The Debate panel discuss our chances against the Gunners...

“What I like about what Arteta has done, is he took over a very difficult dressing room,” he said. 

“Other than wait to try and sell players, they took a big hit on players.

“They terminated contracts to get players who didn’t fit the Arteta mould out of the dressing room.” 
 
But he thinks the Gunners could struggle on Sunday if Ten Hag organises his side similarly to how he did against Manchester City at Old Trafford.

“With the way United set up, I think Arsenal will find that hard,” added Ducker. 

“There won’t be the space to break down [United].”

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Stone, a reporter for the BBC, feels the resurgence of both Arsenal and United this season has restored the fixture's blockbuster status, if not quite to the level of Sir Alex Ferguson's famous contests with Arsene Wenger in the 1990s and early 2000s.

“No matter what anyone says, the biggest three clubs in this country are Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool – and to have Manchester United and Arsenal battling at the top again, rather than in sixth or seventh places, is fantastic. 

“It can’t be Ferguson against Wenger - I don’t think you’ll get the same rivalry. But I think the passion of the fans will be clear for everyone to see. 

“I think it should be a fantastic game, I hope, that Manchester United get the result.”
Meanwhile, the former United players on The Debate panel feel Arsenal are yet to face a setback this season, one that would test their powers of recovery.

David May made the point that their players have largely remained fit and available, bar the loss of Gabriel Jesus up front. 

“They’ve not had injuries, they’ve not had a little dip in form, and it’s how you recover from that, said May. “Nothing [in terms of trophies] is ever given out in January. 

“When you go back to the time we were playing here, January and February was the period when you started making that charge.”

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